Launchkey
The Creative Controller
The new Launchkey is a controller keyboard designed for creative music makers. As well as enabling detailed hands-on control of all major DAWs, Launchkey comes with powerful tools for creating chords and melodies, a collection of software synths, premium orchestral sample libraries, high-quality effects processors, and a step sequencer for Ableton Live users.
Launchkey has been re-engineered to look, feel, and play like an instrument — from the high-quality keybed and unique patented Launchpad-style FSR pads, to the continuous encoders and crisp, bright OLED display. Launchkey combines these elements with onboard creative tools that allow you to produce chord progressions, bass lines, melodies, and sequences with expression and speed.
Play music. Get creative.
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Control your software
Now in its fourth generation, the new Launchkey features a redesigned interface that feels and plays as a musical instrument.
Adjust DAW and plugin settings with precision using the continuous encoders and buttons for accurate control of your session. Launch clips and scenes, play drums and chords with our newly patented Launchpad-style pads and sequence drum racks, melodies, and chords in Ableton Live and Bitwig Studio.
Launchkey comes with everything you need to plug in and start making music straight away. Access to Ableton Live 12 Lite, along with a suite of instruments, effects, and creative tools — all seamlessly integrated to take you beyond just controlling your DAW. -
Reimagine your creativity
Create pitch-perfect musical harmony and melody with Scale Mode, even without prior musical training. Choose from 30 different scales to inspire your creativity in new directions.
Instantly capture and play fixed interval chords with Fixed Chord, and save your favourite chord sets or progressions with User Chord. Get your ideas flowing quickly with Chord Map, featuring 40 banks of eight well-voiced chords, all playable from Launchkey's pads.
Find your rhythm with the enhanced Launchkey generative arpeggiator, enabling you to express and shape your sequence using the new eight-step editor.
Pick your Launchkey
Work intuitively
Launchkey is crafted for music makers. The layout and workflow have been redesigned from the ground up to ensure hands-on control and compatibility with all major DAWs.
Navigate through music sessions with precision. Rapidly access transport, mixer, and plugin controls without taking your hands off Launchkey, to stay in your creative flow. The bright OLED display ensures easy navigation and feedback of adjusted parameters and controls.
Get hands-on
With polyphonic aftertouch, each pad responds individually to varying amounts of pressure, enabling more expressive and dynamic playing.
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Always in key
Scale Modes now allow you to lock your keyboard to one of 30 different scales to eliminate wrong notes, or even map everything to only the white keys with Easy Scale Mode.
Chord Detector shows which chord is currently being played, with a visual representation on the crisp OLED display. -
Move with the melody
Groove with the tempo of your project using the latest version of our generative arpeggiator.
Effortlessly create and mutate musical sequences with our new eight-step editor, conveying expression through tie, accent, and ratchet controls. -
Overcome creative blocks
Explore a wide range of handcrafted chords with dynamic performance modifiers through Chord Map, perfect for captivating live performances.
Trigger chords from a single key using Fixed Chord mode, store chord progressions with User Chord Mode, then play them back on the 16 velocity-sensitive drum pads.
All you need to create
The new Launchkey comes with a unique software bundle that enables you to dive straight into music creation. Ableton Live 12 Lite empowers you to record and perform with up to eight tracks of MIDI or audio, complemented by a selection of premium instruments, effects, and creative tools — all seamlessly integrated with your Launchkey.Klevgrand - Renowned for intuitive and effective production tools, Klevgrand, based in Stockholm, Sweden, offers Launchkey users three premium plugins: LUXE for track enhancement, R0Verb for multi-delay effects, and Slammer for comprehensive drum customisation.
GForce – Beautifully modelled heritage synth VSTs with emulations of classic Oberheim synthesizers. The bundle includes Oberheim SEM, Oberheim OB-EZ, and AXXESS.
Orchestral Tools – World-class orchestral and acoustic sounds, including the Parallel Orchestra Bundle, exclusively for Launchkey customers. This bundle features Delicate Piano, Flautando Strings, Percussion FX, Shadowy, Paradox Texture, and Woodwind Parallax. It supports creating a wide range of music, from cinematic to hip hop.
Ableton Live 12 Lite - The popular music creation software with seamless Launchkey integration. It includes effects, instruments, sounds, and creative features to make any kind of music with ease.
Melodics - A desktop and mobile app offering bespoke lessons for Novation users. Learn to play keys or pads with guided lessons and popular songs for both beginners and advanced users.
Compare Launchkey
Launchkey Mini 25 | Launchkey Mini 37 | Launchkey 25 | Launchkey 37 | Launchkey 49 | Launchkey 61 | |
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Keys | 25 | 37 | 25 | 37 | 49 | 61 |
Key Size | Mini | Mini | Full size | Full size | Full size | Full size |
Keybed | Synth action | Synth action | Synth action | Synth action | Semi-weighted | Semi-weighted |
Pads with polyphonic aftertouch | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
Continuous encoders | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Faders and Fader Buttons | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ |
Pitch/Mod Wheel | 2 x Touch Strip | 2 x Touch Strip | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
OLED display | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Chord Modes | Chord Map, Fixed, and User Chord | Chord Map, Fixed, and User Chord | Chord Map, Fixed, and User Chord | Chord Map, Fixed, and User Chord | Chord Map, Fixed, and User Chord | Chord Map, Fixed, and User Chord |
Scale Mode | 30 Scales | 30 Scales | 30 Scales | 30 Scales | 30 Scales | 30 Scales |
Arpeggiator with step editor | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Zones | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ |
Clip/Scene Launch | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Custom Modes | Pads and Encoders | Pads and Encoders | Pads and Encoders | Pads and Encoders | Pads, Encoders, and Faders | Pads, Encoders, and Faders |
MIDI out | 3.5mm | 3.5mm | 5 pin | 5 pin | 5 pin | 5 pin |
Sustain input | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Bus Powered | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Find out more | Find out more | Find out more | Find out more | Find out more | Find out more |
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Need more keys?
Made for expressive performance, Launchkey 88 [MK3] features premium, semi-weighted keys for a responsive feel and tactile feedback.Find out more -
Launchkey MK3
Learn about the previous generation of Launchkey.Find out more